Senate President Ahmed Lawan has called on governors to stop the campaign for regionalism and rather concentrate in providing good leadership in their respective states.
Reacting to the recent resolution of the southern governors calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to allow for the restructuring of the country along regional lines, Lawan said it was wrong for governors to be at the forefront of such campaign.
He urged them to as political leaders, purge themselves of divisive tendencies, while calling for national spirit of oneness.
He said the governors should first restructure their states before asking the federal government to do so.
“I believe that, as leaders, especially those of us who are elected into office should not be at the forefront of calling for this kind of thing (restructuring).
“Because, even if you are a governor, you are supposed to be working hard in your state to ensure that this restructuring you are calling for at the federal level, you have done it in your state as well.
“What you may accuse the Federal Government of, whatever it is, you may also be accused of the same thing in your state.
“So, we are supposed to ensure that we have a complete and total way of ensuring that our systems at the federal, state and even local government levels work for the people.
The Senate President urged political leaders to allow people to participate in governance so that whoever feels he has something to offer to make Nigeria better does so freely without any let or hindrance.
“The solutions to our challenges must come from us regardless of what level of government we are.
“I believe that Nigeria is going to come out of these challenges stronger,” he noted.